Assistance with audio

[Bluesproggit]

Hello everyone,

I'm very new to WVP and would like to gauge your professional opinions on my weakest area of wedding videos.....audio.

I am shooting using two Sony Fx1e cameras with Rode video mics attached to both (not XLR unfortunately since the FX1 doesn't come with this feature). However because of this I have had problems recording audio. The audio jack has come loose on a couple of occasions (probably my fault), and as a result, I want to upgrade my audio equipment before I make a costly mistake. I am looking at extra backup and wireless mics to pick up important audio (like the vows), and possibly a wired mic attached to a minidisc recorder. What can anyone recommend?

Many thanks
Aaron

[MediaConcepts]

Welcome Aaron!

As for wireless mics, you can't go wrong with Sennheiser Evolution G2 100 Series or Lectrosonics 100 series mics. Avoid the less expensive brands.

As to your mini plug problem, check out the Beachtek DXA-FX (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=412996&is=REG&addedTroughType=search).

Joe

[Maureen]

One other option as a great backup option would be to pick up an Edirol R9. I have used them for ambient sound and stuck a lav mic and just put it in the pocket. The sound quality is excellent, you don't have to worry about frequency compatability and dropouts. The only downside is that you have to sync your audio on the timeline which isn't that hard.

[JC/DV]

Welcome Aaron! This might be a little overkill, but I like to mix my audio live for the most part: http://www.wedvidpro.com/forums/showpost.php?p=77&postcount=1

[Bluesproggit]

Thanks for all your advice guys. Just wondering how you would cope with any outdoor weddings? Seems like the only way it could work would be to go with Maureen's suggetsion of a Edirol R9 (unless you had a really really long extension cable).

[Jenny]

I am with Joe. I use 6 Lectrosonic series 100 wireless microphones and headphones to monitor them. I also have a Edirol R9. If you invest in quality wireless microphones, you wont regret it.

[sheilaorsi]

I am with Joe. I use 6 Lectrosonic series 100 wireless microphones and headphones to monitor them. I also have a Edirol R9. If you invest in quality wireless microphones, you wont regret it.

Hey Jenny...

I was just at an audio course.. and I plan on investing in the Edirol R9...

Unfortunately.. I dont have the funds to invest in a mic system like yours... BUT I was interested in recording my audio for 2007 like this...

Q for you....

is there any "magic" way that you listen in on the audio...I mean - even 4 channels of the 1 hour ceremony is over 4 hours of audio alone... how do you do that???

Sheila

[Jenny]

I use the Edirol R9 as a back up for cocktail music and ambient music from the reception's band, since it records for hours. The only think I don't like about this or iRivers are that you cannot monitor them.

I wear headphone always and can hear the 2 mics that are plugged in to my camera. I have another videographer doing the same. Sometimes I have a third videographer doing the same. If it's only two of us, then we are only moderating 4 mics. I put the four most important mics in our cameras and the other two on the 3rd camera.

I put the officiant and podium mic on my camera, groom and music or other podium on 2nd shooter. I try to use all 6 mics, planting one in a plant, on alter, near other music, singer etc. for backup.

I always use at least 3 Sony PD170, two mics on each camera.

For reception, I tap into to band board and put one receiver on each of our two cameras plus an ambient mic and mix in post.

This is described in detail in my The Wedding Videographers Complete Business, Marketing and Production Manual
Complete Professional Wedding Video Business, Business and Full Wedding Production Manual. Includes contracts, planning guides, forms, checklists, diagrams, worksheets and complete instructions. Available on my website.

I also give demonstrations of in in my Boot Camp workshops at WEVA Expo. I will be giving a short condensed version at the February Illinois Video Association in Chicago on February 20th.

[Jenny]

I find it interesting that videographers will invest so much money in their cameras, HD, gadgets, etc. yet often neglect the audio. I think it's often over looked and needs more attention. It is what makes us so different from photographers and is 50% of the finished product.

A/V the A stands for audio.

[joemcmanus]

I was one of the lucky ones that picked up a Giant Squid Mic in Jacksonville and it blew me away this past Saturday. Wish it came with a windscreen but that is just minor. Way better sound than with my supplied Sennheiser omni.

[Jenny]

Also, I record two separate audio sources on each tape, one on right and one on left. I use 5 cameras. Then I always pick, choose and mix the audio in post, never live.

[MediaConcepts]

I find it interesting that videographers will invest so much money in their cameras, HD, gadgets, etc. yet often neglect the audio. I think it's often over looked and needs more attention. It is what makes us so different from photographers and is 50% of the finished product.

A/V the A stands for audio.

Unfortunately this is true throughout the entire television/video industry.

Joe

[Mark Foley]

I was one of the lucky ones that picked up a Giant Squid Mic in Jacksonville and it blew me away this past Saturday. Wish it came with a windscreen but that is just minor. Way better sound than with my supplied Sennheiser omni.

Hi Joe...glad the mic worked for you...best $25 investment for just about anybody.


Darren recommends using this winscreen from Radio Shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103337&cp

[sonydude]

My boss always says with events the quantity of the mics is more important than the quality. At first the perfectionist in me objected but experience has shown that a cheapo mic in the right place can often get better audio than a $2000 mic 30 feet from the source

[vegas06]

Hey Jenny...

I was just at an audio course.. and I plan on investing in the Edirol R9...

Unfortunately.. I dont have the funds to invest in a mic system like yours... BUT I was interested in recording my audio for 2007 like this...

Q for you....

is there any "magic" way that you listen in on the audio...I mean - even 4 channels of the 1 hour ceremony is over 4 hours of audio alone... how do you do that???

Sheila

Sheila, I don't own a Lectronis wirless, but I would love to do so. I currently use a Samson Micro 32 Wireless (transmitter, wireless handheld, receiver), which goes for around $500. It works great, but the build quality is suspect. I would personally recommend the Sennheiser series personally because of the build quality and scannability features of them, for around the same price.

Anyway, I have the R-09 (for micing officiant or groom as well as backup audio) and a Zoom H4 (too large to mic someone with) (which enables me to use 2 different feeds (via XLR) for separate L/R channel).

Anyway, the Zoom H4 has pass through recordable audio via the analog line out ports on the unit. What this lets me do is record to the H4's SD card and also send a wireless signal (that I can monitor) to my camera for syncable backup audio.

All of this is mounted on one mic stand that can be moved anywhere, as there are no power or long XLR cables in the mix. The R-09 or H4 is actually my main constant audio and my camera audio is for backup and sync purposes only.

So I could mic a monitor speaker and the dancefloor at the same time with 2 mics or take a feed from the soundboard and mic the dancefloor for an ambiant mix. Then send the mixed signal to my camera.

Works great everytime and all the while I can monitor my audio.

The R-09 is great too my you can only use the units headphone out for transmitting audio, and it's too hot for a signal to do so unless padded.

There are even better ways to get your audio recorded onto just one device (Like the Edirol R-4 4 track recorder with built in 40 GB HD), but they will run you quite a bit more.